The United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports (ULIS) is pleased to provide an update on the progress of the Integriball 2.0 project, launched in March 2024 to educate women and youth football players about the dangers of match-fixing while empowering them to stand against competition manipulation and promote fair play.
The two-year initiative seeks to enhance the educational resources available to football federations in Estonia, Georgia, and Romania, while providing direct training to players and coaches in the three countries.
With the completion of a comprehensive Situational Report, the project has now reached the end of its initial research phase. The report features detailed analysis from fact-finding missions and surveys conducted in the three countries and will form the backbone of the curriculum ULIS is finalising ahead of training sessions scheduled to begin in Romania in March.
Implementation Phase
The implementation phase of the Integriball 2.0 project will start in Bucharest on 25 March after a mid-term Board meeting of the project Consortium, followed by Pilot Training/Testing on 26 March and a Train-the-Trainers workshop on 27 March. The training will then move to Georgia and Estonia, with all sessions to be finished by April.
Armed with key insights from the fact-finding missions in the three countries, the Integriball 2.0 team is optimistic about the project's trajectory as it enters this crucial phase of execution.
“In addition to information contained in the Situation Report, we are working with other sources of data coming from our monitoring platform and ad hoc research,” said ULIS Project Manager Cristina Swan. “These insights will be of tremendous value to our training sessions and especially in educating the participants from Estonia, Georgia and Romania. Data and analysis specific to a particular country or region can often have a much greater effect on learning because it tends to resonate on a deeper level when participants realise the issues are occurring in their own back yards. Match-fixing and other forms of competition manipulation know no boundaries – they can happen anywhere and in any sport, and this is a message that needs to be shared.”
The pilot trainings are designed to test and refine the developed curriculum, while the Train-the-Trainers workshops aim to equip a pool of local trainers with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver the curriculum effectively on their own in the future. Each workshop will be tailored to the specific needs of the partner country.
The sessions will focus on raising awareness among the target audience about the risks and consequences of competition manipulation, such as match-fixing and other unethical practices, as well as the potential dangers that the misuse of betting behaviour can pose to the credibility of football and sports more generally.
ULIS Monitoring Platform
The ULIS integrity platform will act as an additional data source for the training sessions. Our monitoring programme plays a vital role in safeguarding sports integrity around the world through the meticulous tracking and storage of data on potential integrity breaches, betting trends, and suspicious activities across various sports.
The training sessions will incorporate real-world examples from our platform, which facilitates information sharing among members, enabling in-depth analysis and identification of patterns indicative of match manipulation or other integrity threats. In addition to the latest global data and analysis, the sessions will be prepared based on country-specific data ULIS has collected and analysed from Estonia, Georgia and Romania.
About Integriball 2.0
Integriball 2.0 seeks to disseminate essential knowledge on countering sports manipulation, safeguarding practices, and whistleblowing mechanisms, ensuring accessibility for youth and female players alike. Through targeted education and empowerment initiatives, the goal is to foster a sporting environment that prioritises integrity and inclusivity.
Since its inception, the programme has made significant strides within football communities across eight countries: Belgium, Czechia, Cyprus, Greece, Malta and now Estonia, Georgia and Romania, paving the way for a more secure, inclusive, and ethically driven sports landscape.
Partners
A collaborative partnership has been forged to fortify the initiative and lay a strong foundation for its success. Integriball 2.0 partners include:
- CSCF Foundation for Sport Integrity (coordinator);
- Eesti Jalgpalli LIIT (EJL);
- Georgian Football Federation (GFF);
- Federatia Romana De Fotbal (FRF);
- Berkeley Global Society (BGS);
- ULIS; and
- UEFA (supporting partner).
The CSCF Foundation for Sport Integrity is an organisation committed to enhancing integrity, transparency, and ethics in sports across the globe. It offers education, advice, and risk management support to sports organisations, law enforcement, governmental bodies, and the betting industry, addressing key ethical and integrity challenges. As Integriball 2.0 coordinators and a premier content provider, the CSCF drives this unique initiative, committed to the cause of sports integrity.
The Eesti Jalgpalli LIIT (EJL), or Estonian Football Association, is the governing body for football in Estonia. As a partner in Integriball 2.0, EJL represents the importance of integrity in sports governance at a national level. By ensuring fair play, transparency, and ethical conduct within Estonian football, EJL contributes to fostering integrity both on and off the field of play.
The Georgian Football Federation (GFF) serves as the governing body for football in Georgia. Through its involvement in Integriball 2.0, GFF emphasises the significance of integrity in sports development within the country. By promoting integrity in football administration, player conduct, and fan engagement, GFF plays a crucial role in upholding the values of fairness and honesty in Georgian football.
The Federatia Romana De Fotbal (FRF), or Romanian Football Federation, is responsible for overseeing football activities in Romania. As a partner in Integriball 2.0, FRF underscores the importance of integrity in football governance and competition. FRF's commitment to combating corruption, match-fixing, and other integrity-related issues within Romanian football highlights its dedication to preserving the sport's credibility and ethical standards.
The Berkeley Global Society (BGS) is an organisation focused on global issues, including integrity in sports. As a partner in Integriball 2.0, BGS brings expertise in ethical leadership, anti-corruption measures, and transparency initiatives. By collaborating with football federations and other stakeholders, BGS contributes to advancing integrity principles and best practices in the sports industry worldwide.
ULIS is a non-profit association of state lotteries conceived to safeguard the integrity and core values of sports from corruption, specifically from the manipulation of sports competitions. As an Integriball 2.0 partner, ULIS emphasises the role of sports betting integrity in maintaining the credibility of football competitions. By implementing measures to prevent match manipulation and illegal betting activities, ULIS helps safeguard the integrity of football and protects the interests of fans, athletes, and stakeholders.
